Fri. Aug. 9 -- Seasoned saxist Rickey Woodard (Horace Silver, Ray Charles) and friends bring real jazz with that South L.A. flavor. In the courtyard at LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036; 6-8pm; FREE; www.lacma.org.
Sat. Aug. 10 -- How come nobody except Zinngeschrei (8:15) does hard-driving prog-metal instrumentals? Chicken? They open the Metal Assault Mixtape party also featuring Tzimani, Old Blood, Ancient Fears, Tyranis. At the Old Towne Pub, 66 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena 91103; 8pm; $10 gets you entry and a mixtape (an actual cassette!); 21+; (626) 577-6583; theoldtownepub.com.
Sun. Aug. 11 -- Mekala Session, drummer son of Ark saxist Michael Session, directs the mighty churn of the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, continuing in the revolutionary Horace Tapscott spirit with the uplifting choir the Great Voice of UGMAA. While you're there, pick up the fine new 1998 vault CD wherein Tapscott, the Voice and the Ark pose the still important question "Why Don't You Listen?" Chicago avant windwoman Angel the Oracle opens with her quartet, then joins the Ark. At Zebulon, 2478 Fletcher Drive, Frogtown 90039; doors 8pm; $20; 21+; www.zebulon.la.
Sun. Aug. 11 -- Trumpeter Elliott Caine's combo visits the corners of the jazz tradition augmented by solid originals. At Griffins of Kinsale, 1007 Mission St., South Pasadena 91030; 5-7pm; no cover; Irish food; beer & wine; www.the.griffinsofkinsale.com.
Sun. Aug. 11 -- Joe Potts leads the open monthly electronic jam "Soundshoppe." At Center for the Arts, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 1pm; free; www.sassas.org.
Mon. Aug. 11 -- Wolvhammer/Nachtmystium spinoff Chrome Waves pounds & chimes & screams with an appealing slowness; Suicide Forest deals the atmo thrash and drowning grief. At Five Star Bar, 267 S. Main St., downtown 90012; 9pm; $10; https://fivestarbardtla.com; (323) 428-4492.
Wed. Aug. 14 -- Who thought a San Diego vegan metal band named Cattle Decapitation would still be screaming after 22 years? Glad they are. Summer Slaughter Tour with Carnifex, The Faceless, Rivers of Nihil, Nekrogoblikon, Illegible Logo, Indecipherable Logo, Obscure Logo. At 1720, 1720 E. 16th St., downtown 90021; doors 7pm; $18; all ages; full bar; food; www.1720.la.
Wed. Aug. 14 -- Dissonant psychedelic black metal from Finland? Oranssi Pazuzu doses heavy, and I'm tripping on the keyboards of Evil; reminds me of Syd Barrett-era Floyd. Photo by Grywnn. With Devil Master, DJ Painkiller. At Catch One, 4067 W. Pico Blvd. (east of Crenshaw), L.A. 90019; doors 8pm; $24; (323) 734-8849; website here.
Wed. Aug. 14 -- Saxist Anthony Braxton, most extreme of the c1970 Chicago avantists, duets with harpist (!) Jacqueline Kerrod (9:50). In various parts of the museum, also participating in the "Black Fire" musical sesssions, which complement the "Soul of a Nation" black-power art retrospective (don't miss it), are Kelsey Lu (8:40), Beans (9:10), Jimetta Rose (8:30, 10:20) and Maurice Harris (continuous). Read my review of last month's Roscoe Mitchell performance here. At the Broad, 221 S. Grand Ave., downtown 90012; 8:30pm; $25 tix include the exhibit and can be purchased here; don't be confused as I was by the indication of "fully booked" status, just click the date on the calendar and then, crucially, click on the 8:30 time. Convenient parking off Second Street beneath Disney Hall.
Wed. Aug. 14 -- Keyboardist Mark de Clive-Lowe's Heritage presents the L.A. composer's eclectic modern conceptions. At Mr. Musichead Gallery, 7420 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 90046; 7:30pm; $15-$25; www.justjazz.tv.
Wed.-Thurs. Aug. 14-15 -- Zappa with no Zappa? Not a bad idea when it's guitarist Mike Keneally, guitarist Ray White, keyboardist Robert Martin, bassist Scott Thunes and drummer Joe Travers. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $28; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Thurs. Aug. 15 -- Pianist Joshua White, fast becoming acknowledged as one of our time's most exciting and involving improvisers, leads an ace sextet featuring drummer Alex Cline, trombonist Michael Dessen, trumpeter Stephanie Richards, saxist Josh Johnson and bassist Anna Butterss. At the Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., West L.A. 90024; 8pm; FREE; $9 underground parking on the east side of Westwood just north of Wilshire; (310) 443-7000; www.hammer.ucla.edu.
Thurs. Aug. 15 -- The veteran avant flute-bass improvisin' duo of Ellen Burr & Jeff Schwartz continue their third-Thursday residency with the brilliant addition of violinist Jeff Gauthier and cellist Maggie Parkins. At Industry Café and Jazz, 6039 Washington Blvd., Culver City 90232; 8-10pm; pay what seems right; Ethiopian & soul food, beer & wine; (310) 202-6633; www.industrycafela.com.
Thurs. Aug. 15 -- Vibraphonist Nick Mancini showcases his swinging dexterity and broad-ranging compositions with clarinetist John Tegmeyer, bassist Cooper Appeli and drummer James Yoshizawa. At Sam First, 6171 W. Century Blvd., L.A. 90045 (near LAX in front of Marriott Courtyard); 8 & 9:30pm; $20 plus one-drink minimum per set; full bar; snacks; small parking lot in rear, reduced-rate validated parking at nearby Joe's Auto Park; (424) 800-2006; www.samfirstbar.com.